Anyone practice Guided Imagery?

[icuabbie]

Are there any nurses out there that are using guided imagery or interactive guided imagery with patients? I'm certified in Interactive Guided Imagery(sm) through the Holistic Nurses Association. If you are out there I'd be interested to hear from you.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I use it when patients are painful or stressed or worried or basically whenever it seems right.

I use a really simple one: Feet on floor or if not sitting then feel them rest against the bottom of the bed. Feel the earth between your toes, feel the grass around your toes and over your feet to your ankles. Feel yourself connecting to the earth. Now feel the sun on your head, feel the gold soothing light as it warms your head and travels thru your body. Feel the strength of the earth hold ing you firm and safel and the gold sunlight as it warms and sooths you...

Thats the abbreviated version. Its more of a grounding technique I learned when I first delved into psychic stuff but it really really calms people down and helps them focus. I had one patient using the images as she was working on weaning from the vent and she said it helped.

edit: and I also never use it in place of medical treatments or interventions. Just as an adjunct.

[healingtouchRN]

use Guided Imagery pre & post op. Working in a PACU, the clients often are anxious about their surgery. It helps to take them to a happy place in their minds eye, without the side effects of hypnotics, sedatives, etc. Works well in conjuction to meds as well. This is a technique easily taught to client/family & can be done to allow the client control over their own situation. I also use it with the Relaxation Response (Dr. Herbert Benson-Harvard Univ.). This is all part of the Holsitic Approach to care.:balloons:

[zuzi]

guided imagery could be in the same time very dangerous if it is used by unqualiefied instructors or if you did not have a preassessment and a full psychiatric assessment of patient.

at soon as the client will learn the technique and fund it helpful, he will used it in life from day to day in a series of different situations supposed or not to be for guided imagery.

like nurse you could be very carefully with whom, and in what conditions you will teach him/her to use gi.